Santiago slams CA for ‘depriving’ her power to block Soliman’s confirmation
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago condemned on Wednesday an alleged move to “deprive” her power to block the confirmation of Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman.
In a letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon, ex-officio chairman of the Commission on Appointments, Santiago protested what she said was an apparent plot to “outmaneuver” her plan to block Soliman’s confirmation by invoking Section 20 of the rules.
This, after the CA’s committee on labor, employment and social welfare, recommended this Wednesday morning the confirmation of the Secretary and then set the plenary deliberation on June 11, the last day of session before Congress adjourns sine die.
Santiago noted that the CA, through its secretary, Arturo Tiu, issued a notice of meeting at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday to continue the confirmation hearing of Soliman.
“In CA practice, this means that if the committee recommends her favorably, her name will be included among those recommended for confirmation at the plenary session on the same day , which starts at 1:00pm,”she said.
The senator also noted her letter to the head of the House of Representatives contingent to the CA, ABONO Partylist Representative Conrado Estrella III as well as their phone conversation about her plan to invoke Section 20 against Soliman.
“Normally, this means that the committee will no longer submit the name of the nominee for that particular plenary session. Rep. Estrella told me that certain members of the House panel agreed to also veto Soliman,” Santiago said.
But the senator was surprised to learn from her staff that “certain LP (Liberal Party) leaders presumably with your knowledge and consent, have decided not to present Soliman’s nomination at the plenary session this afternoon,”she said in her letter to Drilon.
“Instead, it will be reportedly presented at the next Commission on Appointments plenary session scheduled next Wednesday, 11 June.”
“Under Section 20 , since June 11 will be the last session prior to the sine die adjournment of Congress, I will lose the power to veto. Tus I would have been deprived of a power granted to every member of the Commission on Appointments, simply to assure the confirmation of Soliman,” Santiago said.
“If this plan is true, then I fiercely protest against this juggling of dates intended to deprive me of the veto.”
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